Have you ever been out to dinner where just about everything seems to go wrong and the staff are just a little bit mad? Well if not then you’ve not been to the Faulty Towers Dining Experience!

Inspired by the television comedy Fawlty Towers (spot the difference?) it sees audience members enjoying a three-course dinner in beautiful surroundings hosted by the lead characters from the TV classic.

For those who don’t know, this is the constantly irritated hotel owner Basil Fawlty who believes shouting at everyone is a solution to a problem, his wife Sybil who attempts but usually fails to calm the waters and the madcap waiter Manuel who is arguably the worst waiter possible.

Faulty Towers Dining Experience has been touring the world for more than 15 years and takes up residence at Birmingham Council House Banqueting Suite until 3 November, giving us all the chance to be part of the story.

The experience proves the faithful adage that you don’t need to be mad to be here but it helps!

From the moment Manuel appears anything goes. There are set storylines, many of which reflect plots from the television show, but there is also plenty of adlib as all three characters rotate the tables, asking questions, making comments – and generally assessing who is going to be game for their craziness and who might prefer to remain in the background.

Full marks to the audience members on our night who did take part – one becoming a bull to Manuel’s matador and another leading a birthday dance.

The cast of three are brilliant as their characters. Rob Langstone has been with the show for more than a decade so has Basil down to a tee. Strutting around the hall he faces up to diners with querulous comments while also trying to outwit Sybil and control Manuel. He is incessantly annoyed, just a little obsequious and, of course, bound to meet obstacles at every turn.

Nerine Skinner is the perfectly coiffed Sybil who befriends the guests, constantly trying to salve situations and yet more than willing to turn her ire on her husband when necessary. She also has a hugely impressive memory, naming each birthday guest in turn – and there were a lot of them.

Ben Hood’s Manuel is just delightful. He’s well-meaning and ever-willing but always in the wrong. All the jokes about him misunderstanding are in there so that he’s throwing bread rolls around the room, getting up on tables, running around with fire extinguishers and generally causing mayhem.

While Fawlty Towers fans will enjoy the constant references back to classic scenes, even an audience member who has never seen the show would rapidly clock the dynamics and respond to the jokes.

And of course part of that is the constant knowledge that you could be next in line. I’m not convinced anyone escaped at least a little joshing but that’s part of the fun.

It should be said that while the trio are causing chaos the hospitality team at Birmingham’s Banqueting Suite are superbly efficient serving up great food with wonderful service while working round the insanity. While the Faulty Towers team may be hopeless at looking after their guests the professionals are top notch.

Faulty Towers Dining Experience is a fun show which will make you laugh and cringe at the same time. The comedy is slapstick and the characters fully-rounded so you can’t help but go with the flow. Be prepared for an evening of craziness where just about anything can happen!

Four stars

Reviewed by Diane Parkes on Thursday 24 October at Birmingham Council House Banqueting Suite, where it takes place until 3 November.